Side Events - UNDESA Division for Inclusive Social Development
Women cooperative warriors combat COVID19 with sustainable gender and equity strategies: Iconic case of Working Women’s Forum (India) and the Indian Cooperative Network for Women
Working Women's Forum (India) (WWF(I)) promoted the Indian Cooperative Network for Women(ICNW), the first women cooperative in 1981, South India for, by and of poor women (6,00,000 members). Empowering poor rural/urban unorganized women workers through organization/mobilization, financial/social inclusion, capacity building, for gender equality, combating gender based violence (GBV). Countering caste/class / gender discrimination by organizing poor women’s cooperatives for collective social change During Covid-19 lockdown (neither repay/receiveloans/savings), a comprehensive inclusion strategy for poor women/girls for continuous credit access, employment, pandemic support services including health/legal awareness for survival to availing Govt. compensation, GBV combat was initiated. “Not to push back poor women” into poverty/social exclusion but withstand pandemic as “Covid heroines - Women Cooperator warriors” ; having developed/implemented a “gender and equity” model of SDG’s.
Speakers
• Introduction to the panel on the role of women workers in cooperatives and welcome Dr. Nandini Azad President, Working Women’s Forum & Indian Cooperative Network for Women and Global board member, Raiffeisen Union, Germany (oldest cooperative union in the world). • Inauguration and Inaugural address - Madam Daniela Bas, Director, Division for Inclusive Social Development, UN DESA and Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, New York. • Vice President, Japanese Consumers’ Cooperative Union (JCCU) and President of the International Cooperative Alliance – Asia Pacific (ICA-AP), Women’s Committee, Madam Chitose Arai on the role of Women workers in cooperatives in Asia – Pacific. • Secretary General (International Raiffeisen Union (IRU) (oldest cooperative union in the world) Mr.Andreas Kappes, will speak on role of women in cooperatives. • World Farmers Organization (WFO), Luisa Volpe (Policy Head) on the role of Women Farmers in Cooperatives. And other grassroots women leaders from WWF – ICNW, South India • Interviews of grassroots cooperaters members/awardees– women rice cake/fish /flower/ vegetable / fruit sellers/weavers etc., that are “Women cooperater warriors - Covid heroines”. • WWF-ICNW, CEO’s. Training Division Head, will provide the training structure, linking informal to formal sector, economic and social impact of ICNW Cooperatives. • Q & A Session (discussion)